Aerial-ladder device.



w. E. LEE.

AERIAL LADDER DEVICE.

- APPLICATlON FILED JULY I8.- 1914. L1%.,99. Patented Dec.14,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. E. LEE.

AERIAL LADDER DEVICE.

APPLICATION men JULY 18. 1914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR rou mm PLANOGRAPH (IO-.WASHINDTON. n r

W. E. LEE.

AERIAL LADDER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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WILLIAM E. LEE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SEAGrR-AVE COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AERIAL-LADDER DEVICE.

Application filed July 18, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. Lnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial-Ladder Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in aerial ladder constructions, and has especial reference to ladders which are automatically elevated, and returned to normal position by means of a screw; I provide means for braking the progress of the ladder in its rising movement, for locking the ladder at any desired degree of elevation attained, for utilizing the locking device in conjunction with the actuation of the screw to lower the ladder and return it to normal position against the force of the automatic elevating means. The locking means is adapted to be thrown into engagement with the screw or released from engagement therewith at will by conveniently operated means, and when in engagement with the screw the latter may be actuated to lower the ladder by a single attendant, thereby curtailing the expense of operation of the device.

In the drawings hereto attached and hereby made a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a ladder equipped with my improvements; Fig. 2 is a view from above of my improvements associated with the screw, broken away from the remainder of the ladder; Fig. 3 is a section through the brake housing along the line Y--Y of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top view of the operating means for the lock adapted to engage the screw; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through Fig. 4, showing the construction of the lock; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the lock in its open or disengaging position, whereas in Fig. 5 the lock is closed on the screw.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 are the sides of a ladder body mounted on the pivot 3 on the bracket 4 on the turn table 5; the frame bracket 6 depends from the ladder and is pivotally associated with the rod 7 carrying one end of the cross head 8 engaging the rod 9 which is a plunger operating against the springs (not shown) in the tube or casing 10; a similar plunger is shown at 11 operating in the tube 12.

Carried on the vehicle is the supporting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915:.

Serial No. 851,749.

frame 13 in which is mounted the screw carrying block 14 supporting the screw 15; 16 2S a bevel gear on one end of the screw adapted to mesh with the bevel 17 on the shaft 18 actuated by the crank 19; a similar crank may be placed at 19 if desired, but m the use of my devices I make it possible for one attendant to wind down the ladder and restore it to its normal horizontal position. 20 is a pawl for engaging the bevel 17 when desired to lock the same.

Brackets 21, 21 are mounted on the ladder body and form bearings for the pivoted bar 22 carrying the locking device shown g nerally at 23 manipulated by the lever 24, and also the braking device shown generally at 25, controlled by the lever 26. Looking now particularly at Figs. 2 and 3, 27 is a retracting spring for the lever 26, and 28 is a cam actuated by the lever 26 to throw the band brake 29 into engagement with the drum 29" carried on the shaft 30, which latter at it opposite end carries the gear 31 in mesh with the screw 15 at all tlmes. During the elevation of the ladder the worm wheel 31 plays over the screw threads, and when the cam is actuated by the lever 26 the shaft 30 is checked or stopped and thereby the screw is held in the position it then occupies or its movement is impeded, whereby the progress of the ladder 1s correspondingly stopped or retarded.

Looking now particularly at Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the rod 32 is rigidly associated with the lever 24 and is adapted to be operated thereby to drive the threaded end 33 into the cross bar 34 carried adjustably on the rods 35 and 36, which latter at their lower ends engage the lower member 37 of the divided nut or look device. Consequently when the lever 24 is moved in the direction away from the observer in Fig. 5, the rod 32 is rotated, the threaded end 33 moves into the cross bar 34 which is lowered and the member 37 is depressed; at the same time the threaded end 38 of the rod 32 moves into the member 39 and lifts it, thereby causing a separation of the members of the divided nut or look and releasing the screw 15 from engagement therewith. The rods 35, 36, are free to move respectively through the openings 35 35 and pass loosely through the member 39 through openings 35, 36 When the lever 24 is shifted, it may be locked at the points 41 and 42 by means of the catch 40, the

divided nut being engaged with the screw in the former position and disengaged in the latter position, the movement above described upon the operation of the lever 2st being reversed when the lever is shifted in the opposite direction, and the nut thereby closed.

It has not been deemed necessary to show the threads in the looking or divided nut construction, but it will be understood that it is threaded to engage the screw 15 operatively when the ladder is to be elevated, the nut will be disengaged so that the nut will not be made to travel back over the screw thereby impeding the upward movement of the'ladder. If it be desired to lock the ladder at any point to which it may have been raised, the nut may be quickly engaged with the screw and the ladder is thereby brought to a stop, for in this device the threads are steep. l/Vhen it is desired to lower the ladder, in a similar manner the nut is engaged with the screw, the attendant operates the H crank 19, and the ladder is readily lowered.

The power of the springs in the tubes 10 and 12 is suflicient to elevate the ladder quickly, and I have found that enough braking influence can be developed by means of the braking device {llJOWZ described, and the ladder can be stopped and held in any desired position effectively by the use of the divided nut, and by the latter in connection with the screw can readily be lowered to any position desired.

What I claim is In an aerial ladder construction, means for automatically elevating the ladder, a screw for lowering the ladder, a braking device carried on said ladder construction comprising a shaft, a worm wheel thereon adapted for engagement with the threads of said screw, and flexible means for controlling said shaft to lock said worm wheel to said screw or to release said worm wheel therefrom, whereby the elevation of said ladder Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

